Ermitage Rouge Les Greffieux 2016 M Chapoutier

Ermitage Rouge Les Greffieux M Chapoutier, Hermitage, Northern Rhone, France 2016 

3.5ha vineyard, hand-harvested 100% organic Syrah produced using biodynamic principles. Totally destemmed grapes. Only free-run juice used for fermentation in cement vats. Barrel ageing for 14-18 months (33% new oak, the rest in used wood). Bottled unfined.

This vineyard is situated at the foot of the Hermitage Hill. It is a glacial alluvial deposit terrace with shingles and clay. Vines are over 50 years old. Les Greffieux wine has powerful but silky tannins, an aroma of rich blackberry fruit, ink and black pepper with a powerfully tannic palate with liquorice notes. 

"Chapoutier's 2016 Ermitage les Greffieux is a perfumed, elegant expression of this historic terroir. Violet and crushed stone notes perfectly complement the cedar and baking spices of new oak in framing ripe blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated yet silky in feel, it adds savory notes of black olive and licorice on the long, mouthwatering finish." 

97/100 points,  Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com